Engineering Design and Analysis

Objective:
Demonstrate quantitatively solid state metal hydride storage system capabilities and progress towards DoE system performance goals.

Approach:

• Develop & evaluate necessary heat and mass transfer analysis methods to predict performance of hydrogen storage systems based on the various metal hydrides of interest.
• Design and test advanced heat exchange systems
• Perform systems analyses to elucidate the impact of various HX methods on system performance.
• Determine engineering properties for media considered for sub-scale system demonstrations
• Measure engineering properties such as heat capacity, expansion stresses & thermal conductivity.
• Develop media processing and handling methods for pilot-scale quantities of metal hydrides.
• Develop cyclic and hydrogen impurity test & analysis techniques.
• Develop handling and use hazard assessments for solid state hydride materials.
• Demonstrate sub-scale systems utilizing media developed under the MHCoE.

Accomplishments

• Key areas of research identified as: (i) advanced heat exchange design, (ii) media engineering properties, (iii) heat & mass transfer modeling and (iv) system modeling methods.
• Novel Solid/Liquid Heat Exchange (SLHX) designs with the potential to significantly reduce gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen storage densities have been defined and are currently being evaluated.
• Base Line system models have been developed which will elucidate the impact of various advanced HX design characteristics for metal hydride fuel supply to fuel cell power systems.
• High yield media preparation methodologies have been proven.
• One-dimensional heat transfer model developed.
• Thermal Properties laboratory completed.
• Trace impurity cycling station has been completed.
• Accelerated cycling rig is nearing completion.
• ANL MH-Tool model has been evaluated.